Over 1.5 million people in Georgia are barred from gambling – How does this system work?

Over 1,576,000 citizens in Georgia are barred from gambling.
According to Yeniavaz.com, this list is compiled by the Tax Service of the Ministry of Finance.
Currently, the agency maintains two main registries: those at risk of gambling addiction and those prohibited from gambling. By law, these lists only include data on Georgian citizens.
According to statistics for 2026, over 41,000 people are on the list of "dependent persons." The vast majority of them – 40,978 people – have submitted applications to voluntarily quit gambling. Only 64 people were included on this list by court order. These decisions are made primarily based on applications from family members.
The number of people restricted from gambling is larger. This category also includes government employees, individuals receiving social assistance, individuals in debt, or those at financial risk.
Several options have been created for individuals to log in to the system or independently curb their addiction. They can register using a facial recognition system through a dedicated online platform, submit an application through an electronic service portal, or contact service centers directly.
Recent legislative changes have further tightened controls over the gambling market. For example, these measures include advertising restrictions, raising the age limit, and tightening requirements for online platforms. Furthermore, operators are required to use special technological control mechanisms to verify the identity of users and prevent prohibited individuals from accessing the system.
The lifting of a gambling ban in Georgia varies for everyone. It depends on the reason for which the individual was included on the list. If a citizen has applied and is included on the list of prohibited individuals, the ban cannot be lifted immediately. According to the law, such individuals must remain on the list for a minimum period of time (usually several years). After this period, they can again apply to the Tax Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia to be removed from the list. The application can be submitted again through the online system, e-cabinet, or service centers.
If a person was added to the list by application of family members and a court decision, the ban can only be lifted through a court order. To do so, the person must reapply to the court and prove that they are no longer in the risk group.
Some citizens (for example, those receiving social assistance or those with debt problems) are automatically subject to the ban. In this case, to lift the ban, they must first change their status. This means paying off their debts, updating their social status, or eliminating the reason specified by law.

Murad Mamedov